Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-10
THE VIRGINIA'S SIDE.
wBAr csrrkIs pEYroE SAYS AsoUr
TRR RR0AYTA AT ALEXANDRIA.
The Richmond Grew Not at Fault The
Victory Not Decided Yet.

"trom the reports in several pa
perS, said Mr., Randolph poyton, cap.
tain of the Virginia Boat-Club crew.
which took part in the regatta az Alex
andria on the Fourth, to DisDafch
representative. at appears that our
crew WAS defeated. but when the case
is properly explained it appears in a
vcry different light When the meet
ing of tie Virginia Rowing Association
was hold in Richmond some months
ago g. decide on The place for holding
thcTteaita Alexandria had delegate
present, and he stated that Alexandria
had three courses, and no matter how
the wind blew they could and would
give smooth course to row this race.
Trusting to hi, promises. the associa-
ton decided 20 80 - Alcxandria.
"ghc Virginia crew lett here on Fri
doy tie lst in time 20 pull that evening
and they did not find the water over
the course the committee had selected
in condition 20 row their boat from Fri
day until they left, bat once.
KICK.
"On the day of the race ], as captain
of the Virginia crew, saw the chairman
Of the Regatta Committee and asked
him ii be could not take another course
thnt was thought TO he better than the
one they had selected. ! received a
reply stating that the Alexandria crew
had been pulling for the last two years
under disadvantages and they (the
committee from the Alexandria club
intended to give them all the advantage
IL was possible in this race. After that
reply /. knowing our boat could not DO
rowed in Slch rough water, wrote the
following
PROTEST
"The Virginia Boat Club do hereby
protest against pulling in the gig race
OF the State Association and the out
sidcrs' race on the grounds that the
course Is in no fit condition 10 launch
boat or TO test the merits Of the diff
forent crews.
DIFFICULTIES.
The protest was served on the proper
parties in the proper forms, one Of
which forms was that we were to be at
tho start or else the protest would
amount % nothing. We made the at
tempt to 20 from the boat-house. which
was mile and half from the starting
roint, but before we had gone one third
OF the way We had to make into land
and put Our lsen out In water about
four feet deep and empty the water out
OF the boat, which WAS then up TO the
seats. Before getting to the starting
point we had to stop and bail out the
water again, and the same thing was
done after reaching the point, making
three stops in mile and IA half, while
the crew had been simply padding
down the stream.
UNDECIDED.
This ur test viii have to be brought
Iciorc the Virginia Association to be
acted on before the race can be decided
m favor OF the Alexandria Club, who
DOW claim it. In the mean while the
cup is in the hands OF the president Of
Ore association. who took charge OF it
whom toe irginia Club--whO had held
It fox two ycars-gaye 1t mp.
ROUGH.
Every one who knows anything
about rowing knows that boat that
would fiji 50 quickly moving slowly
would not 70 very far under a racing
stroke: vet in the fac Of MI these dis
advantages the crew tried to start IN
the race, and on the third or fourth
stroke the No. and no out-rigger5
were driven into the water TO such a
dcplh tina. the men could not handle
thcir oars, and it WAS with difficulty
Tint thew could clear them at al,
although they were manned by thetwo
best men. II was from this cause that
one of the Washington papers seems
20 think this crew WAS carrying pas
seur.r in one of It's Oarsmen; but IT
they had been on smooth water tins re-
rortsr could have been taken IN the
Sirciuins' boat as q passenger, andth
the crew would have given him the
pleasure Of viewing the passengers IN
some other boats that are claiming
honors at the expense of the Virginia
crew, when this crew WAS virtually not
in tie race.
"Thc Virginia Poat Club woulihayc
been 10 fault had they taken thcirprca-
eu, boat. the GcorSue, to Old Point or
Norfolk. knowing they would have t.
uull on very rough water; but alter
Getting the regatta at AleXandraon the
promise Of smooth water the club is
cc:tainly not to be blamed for not
having The proper boat. The boats
used by the Alexandria and Petersburg
crews were from four to SIX inches
broader and several inches deeper than
the boat used los the NirHnias.